Northwest Folklife Festival 2012: Expect expanded horizons

Originally published May 24, 2012 at 10:42 am

Updated May 24, 2012 at 12:46 pm

The Northwest Folklife Festival used to be a bastion of acoustic music purism. Today it takes in electronic music, hip-hop, punk rock and a host of other eclectic endeavors. This year's festival is May 25-28 at Seattle Center.

There was a time in the not-so-distant-past when just the mention of an electric bass would send board members of the Northwest Folklife Festival into paroxysms of acoustic-purist horror. No longer. Even a quick glance at the program of the 41st Northwest Folklife Festival, running Friday-Monday, reveals a showcase of electronica, the very loud Seattle punk-rock band Dude York, a celebration of jazz-influenced improvised music and an exploration of the roots of hip-hop.

Folklife’s transition to a more catholic musical embrace — think of it as homemade and communal music, rather than only banjo-plucking on the porch — has come about gradually over the last two decades. It’s a refreshing development that appeals particularly to young people, now as faithful a part of the flock as their clog- or Balkan-dancing parents.

• Folklife joins in Seattle Center’s “Next Fifty” look at the 1962 World’s Fair with a celebration of the book “The Future Remembered: The 1962 Seattle World’s Fair and its Legacy.” The program includes conversations with the authors, Paula Becker and Alan J. Stein. 4 p.m. Friday-Monday, Narrative Stage at SIFF Cinema.

• Tribute to the classic set of records “Harry Smith: An Anthology of Folk Music,” with The Foghorns, Mark Johnson, Canote Brothers, Baby Gramps, Led to Sea and many others. 1 p.m. Monday, Northwest Court.